Road barrier with pivotable span joints



M. BIGNI 3,447,786 ROAD BARRIER WITH PIVOTABLE SPAN JOINTS Sheet WANN,

111% y. J%\\\\\\ m K MARIO BIGNI 3y CLARIO CECCO". Az'T June 3, 1969 Fi1ed July 11, 1967 M. BIGNI 3,447,786 ROAD BARRIER WITH P IVOTABLE SPAN JOINTS` June 3, 1969 sheet Z of2 Filed July 1'1, 19s? MARIO B'GN:

)y CLARIo Ceccou,

United States Patent O 3,447,786 ROAD BARRIER WITH PIVOTABLE SPAN JOINTS Mario Bigni, Via Ghidoni 31, Brescia, Brescia, Italy Filed July 11, 1967, Ser. No. 652,608 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug. 20, 1966, 19,000/66 Int. Cl. E01f .l5/00; A01k 3/00; E04h 17/14 U.S. Cl. 256-13.1 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Road barriers and road dividers lare rendered more resistant to impact Iby vehicles, more elastic land per manently non-defo-rmable, and more economically installed and repaired by using the unique prefabricated arrangement ldisclosed herebelow. Each span or section of the barrier is composed of two road-embedded supports (or of one embedded) and -a plurality of intermediate non-embedded supports resting on the pavement. The horizontal beams, made of reinforced and massive concrete .are provided with annularly shaped terminals which slide around two adjoining supports. Washer-like doughnuts may :be inserted between superimposed beams to obtain a rail effect. The annular extremities and the doughnut separators are movable (pivotable) about the vertical supports to impart the required elastic effect.

The present invention relates to road barriers and road dividers of unique construction; specifically, to road dividers which have pivotable span joints of prefabricated reinforced massive concrete.

The known barriers which are visible along the highways or which are used las dividers between lanes of opposite traffic are generally formed of metal sheets, aesthetically shaped, lined p in ya continuous row and supported lat given intervals 'by poles or stakes solidly anchored n the pavement or in the ground.

IThese 'barriers :are not usually suited to absorb or at least to minimize rthe imp-act caused by :an accidental contact with :a speeding vehicle, because the elements constituting the barrier are rigidly anchored to Ithe supporting stakes and, consequently, are fixed to the ground.

Furthermore, the element-s of these barriers, bot-h horizontal and vertical, upon -impact with la vehicle, become generally permanently deformed, 'so as tto require the replacement of an entire span or rail, Ithus increasing the maintenance cost of the highway.

It is one object of the present invention to provide for a novel type of road barrier or divider, which has a greater resistance to impact because of the dynamic transmission of the impact forces through the pivotable individu-al elements ofthe barrier;

It is another object of the invention to provide for a novel type of road barrier which has considerably more resilience when subject to vehicular impacts, because each span of the b-arrier or divider has at least one vertical terminal thereof not connected fixedly with lthe ground but resting simply on the surface of lthe pavement or on the lground itself;

It is still another object of the present invention to provide for ra res-iliently deformable road barrier which is capable of fully :absorbing a vehicular impact with :a gradual resilience of the horizontal members of the bar- Iier, said resilience being caused by the unique assembly of the horizontal members rterminals about vertical support-ing cylindrical members which `are not embedded in the ground or road pavement;

It is yet another object of the invention to provide for a road barrier which lallows for rapid and easy installa- -tion and for economy in maintenance, because of the prefabricated elements of the barrier which .are easily transported, assembled and replaced.

The elements `which constitute the road barrier or divider of the present invention 'are made of prefabricated reinforced concrete which has been subjected to a vibrational treatment in order to :render the element more rnassive. In the jargon of the trade, this treatment is Ialso referred to yas getting out the fat, or minimizing voids in the mass. The horizontal elements of the barrier lare pivotably inserted on pilasters or stakes, so as to obtain a movable joint thereabout. Since intermediate every two :sequentially fixed or embedded supports there is a plurality of non-embedded similar vertical supports, fthe movement of the pivotable horizontal elements about their terminal supporters allows the absorption of vehicular impacts with a gradwal resilient effect. This effect, coupled with the height of the road divider, prevents, as it can be readily seen, the jumping of a vehicle yacross the divider and in-to a lane of incoming traic or, yas the case may be, the leaving o-f the road due to loss of control of the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

The objects and :advantages of the present invention will become more (apparent from the following detailed description thereof and from the 'accompanying drawings, in which:

[FIGURE 1 is a side view of a series of elements (spans) in the road barrier or divider;

[FIGURE 2 shows in cross-section two adjoining spans, taken :along the direction A-A of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the lbarrrier of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 shows partially in cross-section an embedded terminal of the barrier; and

FIGURE 5 shows in cross-section #a terminal of the barrier :along the direction B-IB of `FIGURE 2.

With reference to the drawings the road 'barrier or divider of the invention is composed of a plurality of elements or beams 1, 2, prefabricated of reinforced concrete which 'has been treated vibrationially to impart a substantially void-free structure. At each extremity of said elements 1, 2, there :are provided Iannuli or doughnuteshaped terminals 3, each terminal having an opening 4 therethrough. In correspondence with each lannulus 3 there may be provided a notch joint 10, as shown in FIG- URES 2 .and 5.

The barrier, furthermore, comprises fixed supports or stakes F, which are also made of the same material of construction. These supports F are installed at regular, predetermined intervals along the highway. Each support F is provided with a lower base 5 for )anchoring into .the ground #and with a vertical cylindrical spindle 6 of diameter preferably smaller than the internal diameter of the openings 4 of elements or beams 1, 2.

The barrier also includes additional supports G for location intermediate the supports F and having structural characteristics similar to those of the fixed supports F, with the exception that the base or foot "7 of supports G is not intended to be embedded in the ground, but to simply rest on the surface thereof.

Elements or beams 1, 2 are mounted and assembled on and between the supports F and the intermediate supports G, so that the cylindrical portions 6 and 8, respectively, are p-assed through the openings 4 of the terminals 3 of elements 1, 2. As a result, elements 1, 2 'are horizontally aligned land superimposed on one lanother Ito form a 4barrier or rail of predetermined height.

If so desired, elements rated from each other by mounted labout spindles drawings.

It can be readily seen that the number of non-ernbedded vertical support-s G may vary Ibetween any two iixed supports F; so can Athe height of lthe barrier land means of separating dis'cs 9 -`6 land 8, las shown in the 1, 2 may be vertically sepa the number of interposed discs 9. All of these variantsV permit a great `flexibility of construction without varying -tlhe shape, size or fabrication of the various elements of the barrier.

What is `claimed is:

1. Road lbarrier of prefabricated reinforced concrete which comprises a plurality of horizontal elements vhaving annularly `shaped extremities; :a first plurality of vertical supports having la substantially cylindrical upper portion inserted in apertures in said extremities and a larger lower base portion imbedded in the ground; a second .plurality of vertical supports similar to said first plurality of vertical supports `but 'having :a `shorter base portion resting ton the surface of the ground; said upper portions of the supports having a diameter smaller th-an the inner diameter of said annularly shaped extremities whereby the Ihorizontal elements are hinged connected to the supports and the second said support-s may move relatively to the ground on vehicle impact.

2, The road ibarrier according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal elements are separated vertically lfrom one another by disc separators inserted on `said upper portion of lsaid supports.

` 3. The road 'barrier according to claim 1, wherein one or more non-embedded vertical :supports are positioned intermediate any two adjoining emlbedded supports.

4. The road .barrier according tto claim 1, wherein said lannularly shaped extremities and said disc separators are provided with at least one notch therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,796,712 3/1931 yHunter 25613.l 2,683,968 7/1954 Budd. A 3,039,743 6/1962 DAronco 256-13.l 3,194,537 7/1965 Ger-in 256-131 3,210,051 10/1965 Case 156-13.1 FOREIGN PATENTS 588,302 5/1947 Great Britain.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

